Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 2000 Acari (Mite) Abundance And Diversity In Soil And Litter Layers Of Eucalyptus Globulus Labill (Tasmanian bluegum) Plantations In Southwest Western Australia Honi M. Adolphson Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Biodiversity Commons Recommended Citation Adolphson, H. M. (2000). Acari (Mite) Abundance And Diversity In Soil And Litter Layers Of Eucalyptus Globulus Labill (Tasmanian bluegum) Plantations In Southwest Western Australia. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ theses/1542 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1542 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. 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Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. EDITH COWANUNIVERSITY LIBRARY ACARI (MITE) ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY IN SOIL AND LITTER LAYERS OF EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LABILL. (TASMANIAN BLUEGUM) PLANTATIONS IN SOUTHWEST WESTERN AUSTRALIA Honi M. Adolphson Thesis submitted in partial fulfilmentof the requirements for the award of Master of Science (Biological Science) School of Natural Sciences Edith Cowan University July 2000 "Ecologists have the responsibility to provide society with the knowledge essential for both understanding and wisely managing the earth and its biological resources" David Tilman, 1999 ii ABSTRACT With the increased planting of E. globulus monoculture plantations, concerns surround the impact these mass plantings will have on the soil environment and wider ecosystem. Soil and litter mites are the dominant saprophages of terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to decomposition processes through their comminution and grazing activities. Despite the importance of mites to decomposition processes, there have been no investigations to date of the litter and soil communities under these plantations within Australia. This study investigated the impact of Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) monoculture plantations on the diversity and abundance of the soil and litter acarine (mite) fauna. Mite communities under three 8 year-old E. globulus plantations sited on reclaimed pastureland were comparedwith an adjacent native E. marginata (jarrah) forest and a grazed pasture in the mediterranean-type region of southwest Western Australia. Sites were sampled in spring 1997 and new sites randomly selected in autumn 1998. Large seasonal variations in abundance and diversity were foundbetween the sampling periods of spring 1997 and autumn 1998, influencedconsiderably by soil moisture. Species richness was consistently higher in both the soil and litter layers under native jarrah forest, with the E. globulus plantations intermediate in species richness between the native forest and grazed pasture. A total of 114 mite species/morphospecies was recognized; 16 Mesostigmata, 52 Prostigmata, 45 Oribatida (Cryptostigmata) and 1 Astigmata. Species diversity in the surface litter was higher under the native forest, reflecting the greater iii heterogeneity of the litter. Diversity in the underlying soil was similar for the native forest and E. globulus plantation, although there were considerable differences in species richness. Soil diversity in the pasture was very poor in comparison to the two forest systems, reflectingthe absence of a litter layer and reduced niche dimensions. The monospecificE. globulus litter possibly reduced niche variety by simplifying the physical habitat and reducing the variety of resources available for thesaprophagous fauna, of which the oribatid mites are a major component. Consequently, the number of families represented in the microphytophagous, phytophagous and predator functional groups under the E. globulus plantation may have beenreduced. The most common oribatid families under the plantation were those often reported fromdisturbed habitats, Oppiidae and Tectocepheidae, and those common in many habitats, Oppiinae and Oppiellinae. An important management implication arising fromthis study is that these plantations would harbour a more diverse mite faunaif planted as a mixed tree stratum. iv USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this work would not have been possible without the advice and encouragement of Dr Adrianne Kinnear, who firstintroduced me to the world of mites. A much-appreciated thank you to all those involved in the School of Natural Sciences, a very close network of people that are willing to assist in anyway possible at all times. Thank you to the security staffthat all kept an eye on me at all hours of the evening. Special thanks to Brian Bowley of MJB & B Advertising and Marketing and Peter Northcott, for both assisting in the placement of photos, maps and graphics. I am indebted to my very loving family and fantastic friends. Thank you to my two field assistants, my dear mummy and great friend Sarah Vetten, for their early morningrises! Thank you to my brother Paul Cameron, sister Pliezette Simon and dear dad. Trayn thanks for your love, support, encouragement and patience. Thank you to all those great people with whom I surround myself. This ecological work is for all of us to understand, appreciate and act upon. Thank you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ••••••••.•••.•.•••.••.......••.•....•.•..•.••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••.•..•..•.•..•. iii DECLARATION ••••.•.••.•••...••......•......•.••..••••••...••..••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••.•••••••• V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••.•••••.•.••.•......•...•..•.•..••••.•..•..••...•.•. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.•••••.•.•..•.••••..•..•. vii LIST OF FIGURES •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••• xi LIST OF TABLES ..•..•..•.•.•......•..•.•.•......•.••..•....•••••••••.•••••.•••.•.•.•..•.•.•.••.•.•.•..•.••.••.••.•••.••....•. xv LIST OF PLATES ...•.•.••.•.••.••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.••••••••xvii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 1.1 Eucalypts in Plantation Forestry ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 1.1.1 The Australian Eucalypt ••••••••••.•.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 1.1.2 Eucalypt Plantations: The World View ............................................................. 2 1.1.3 Plantation Forestryin Australia •••••••••••••••••••.••••••.•••.•••••••••••••••.•..•.•.••••••••••••••••..• 3 1.2 Eucalyptus globulus Labillardiere •.•.•.•.....•••........•........••.•••...•.•.•.•..•..•.•...•...••••..•.....•• 4 1.2.1 Eucalyptus globulus: The Tasmanian bluegum................................................. 5 1.3 Eucalyptus globulus in Western Australia •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7 1.3.1 Southwest WesternAustralia: Climate and Biota ............................................ 7 1.3.2 History of Eucalyptus globulus in Southwest Western Australia .................... 8 1.4 The Soil Environment...•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••.••••••..••••..••••••••.•.••.•••.. 9 1.4.1 Importance for Ecosystem Function •.•.•.....•.•...•.•.•.•......•.•.•....•..•.•..•..•..•.......•••••• 9 1.4.2 Biotic Components of the Soil and Litter ........................................................ 12 1.5 The Soil Mesofauna, with particular reference to the Soil Acari ......................... 14 1.5.1 Classificationof Acari ..•......•.•..........•.•.•..•...•..•.•••••.•.•.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 15 vn 1.5.2 The Collembola ••.•••••••••••••••••••......•.•••••.••••••••.•.•.•.•.•••••••••••••••.•••....••••.•••••.•....•....• 16 1.5.3 The Roles of Mesofaunain the Soil-litter Stratum ......................................... 17 1.5.4 Acari as Biological Indicators ........................................................................... 18 1.6 Drawbacks in working with Acari ••.•.•.•......•.•.••••••••••••••...•.•.••.•••••••.••.•..•..•..•••••••••••• 19 1.7 Effects of Disturbance on Acari ••••••••••••••••••.•.•.•.•.•.•••.••••••••••••.•....•.•..•.•••••••••..•..•...... 20 1.8 Impact of Forest Monocultures on Soil Fauna, with particular emphasis on Eucalyptus globulus .•...•..•..•.•••••••••••••••••••••.•.•........•....•.••••••••••••••••••••.•....•.••••••••••••••••••••••.